Rupert Balfe

Rupert Balfe
Personal information
Date of birth	(1890-03-09)9 March 1890
Place of birth	Brunswick, Australia
Date of death	25 April 1915(1915-04-25) (aged 25)
Place of death	Gallipoli, Turkey
Original team(s)	Brunswick (VFA)
Debut	15 May 1909, University vs. St Kilda, at Junction Oval
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

(Joseph) Rupert Balfe (9 March 1890 – 25 April 1915) was an Australian rules footballer.

Education

Born in Brunswick, Balfe attended Princes Hill State School before earning a scholarship to attend University High School, Melbourne. Rupert decided after High School that he would study medicine. He attended Melbourne University for his degree and accomplished it. During his years at the University he played for the VFL Football Club.

The True Athlete

He played Australian rules football for VFA Club Brunswick whilst enjoying athletics at University High. He played in a Grand Final with Brunswick against Footscray, along with his two brothers, Harold and Stan. Balfe, a wingman, broke his arm during the match and that turned the game, with Footscray winning by 24 points. When at Melbourne University, he became a classy footballer with the VFL/AFL side University, but due to studies he was limited. He played on 1 game in season 1909–1910, making his debut in 1909, but in 1911 he came back, and allowed for 6 more games, before ending a football career for athletics.

He had always been a great athlete, especially in field athletics. He was a High School champion athletics, winning the 100,200 and 400 yards handicaps, long jump, high jump and 120 yards hurdles. In 1913 he was runner-up in the Victorian long jump.

World War I

It was announced on 2 September 1914 that he would be a Second Lieutenant with the 6th Battalion in the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Rupert Balfe died on ANZAC Day at Gallipoli, Turkey, at the age of 25. He was one of many players from the VFL during the World Wars who lost their lives.

A Remembered Friend

Balfe had a strong friendship with Robert Menzies, who was studying Law at Melbourne University. Menzies went on to become the Prime Minister of Australia from 1939–1941, 1949–1966. Menzies wrote a poem for the late Balfe which appeared in several local newspapers on 16 July 1915.

In Memoriam Lieut. J.R. Balfe, Killed in Action, Gallipoli, July 1915

His was the call that came from far away –
An Empire's message flashing o'er the sea –
The call to arms! The blood of chivalry
Pulsed quicker in his veins; he could not stay!
Let others wait; for him the glorious day
Of tyrants humbled and a world set free
Had dawned in clouds and thunder; with a glee
Born not of insensate madness for the fray,
But rather of a spirit noble, brave,
And kindled by a heart that wept at wrong,
He went. The storms of battle round him rave
And screaming fury o'er him chants its song,
Sleep, gallant soul! Though gone thy living breath,
Thou liv'st for aye, for thou has conquered death!"

See also

• List of Australian military personnel killed at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915
• List of Victorian Football League players who died in active service

References

• Main, J. & Allen, D., "Balfe, Rupert", pp. 14–16 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen — The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. ISBN 1-74095-010-0
• 51st casualty list.

External links

• Rupert Balfe's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Joseph Rupert Balfe